Marking apparatus



April 26, 1960 R. L. BARKER 2,934,004

MARKING APPARATUS Filed June 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 56. IROBKT 1.. BAR/(FR BY W April 26, 1960 R. 1.. BARKER 04 MARKING APPARATUSFiled June 1, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. B08567 L. BAR/(FR Z64 Y-MmAITQENEYK' Unite States Patent MARKING APPARATUS Robert L. Barker,Petaluma, Calif.

Application June 1, 1956, Serial No. 588,731

7 Claims. 01. 101-35) This invention relates generally to a markingapparatus and more particularly to a marking apparatus of the typeadapted to be flush mounted in a horizontal working surface.

In cutting of meat in locker plants, it is generally desirable toseparately wrap each piece of meat so that it can be readily removedfrom the other pieces of meat in the locker after the meat has beenfrozen.- It is also generally desirable to mark the wrapping on eachpiece of meat with the type of meat, the name of the cut of the meat,the locker number, the date of wrapping the meat and other pertinentinformation. Devices or apparatus heretofore provided for marking thepaper used for wrapping the meat have been very unsatisfactory.

In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide amarking apparatus which is particularly adapted for use in pre-markingwrapping paper in locker plants.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marking apparatus of theabove character which can be flush mounted in a table top or otherhorizontal work surface.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marking apparatus of theabove character which can be easily operated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marking apparatus of theabove character which is counterbalanced to facilitate easy operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a marking apparatus of theabove character which is self inkmg.

A further object of the invention is to provide a marking apparatus ofthe above character which is readily adjustable.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from thefollowing description in which the preferred embodiment has been setforth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a bottom plan view of a marking apparatus incorporating thefeatures of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 with some of the parts removedshowing the printing roller being pulled downwardly away from the inkingpad.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 but shows the inking pad removedfrom the printing aperture and the printing roller raised into theprinting aperture.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 5--5 of Figure1.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 66 of Figure 5.

As shown in the drawing, the marking apparatus is mounted on a table orother horizontal working surface 10. The apparatus consists of aframework 11 which is comprised of a horizontal base member 12 that israbbeted into the upward surface of the work table 10. A pair of sidewall members 13 and 14 are fixed to the hori- 2,934,004 Patented Apr.26, 1960 2 zontal base member 12 by suitable means such as spot welding.A bottom member 16 is fixed to the lower ends of the side wall members13 and 14 by suitablemeans such as spot welding.

A pair of arms 18 and 19 are pivotally connected to a the side wallmembers 13 and 14 by suitable means such as the fastening assemblies 21.Each of the fastening assemblies 21 consists of a bolt 22 which ismounted in the side wall and extends through a spacer 23. The spacer 23is provided with a reduced portion 2 1 which is adapted to receive theend of the associated arm'ls'or 19. A nut 26 and a washer 27 secure thebolt 22 "and the spacer 23 to the side wall. It will be noted'that thedepth of the reduced portion 24 is greater than the width of the arms 18and 19 so'that the arms'can easily pivot about the spacer 23.

A printing rollers assembly 29 is mounted on the free ends of the arms18 and 19 and consists of a plurality of printing rollers 31 looselymounted on a shaft 32 forrotation about the shaft 32. The ends of theshaft 32 are threaded and extend through the free ends of the arms 18and 19 and are fastened thereto by nuts 33. A flanged spacer 34 ismounted on the shaft 32 adjacent each of the arms 18 and 19. Theprinting rollers 31 are mounted between the spacers 34.

Each of the printing rollers 31 consists of a roller 36 of suitablematerial such as plastic. Indicia are provided on the roller by suitablemeans such as a strip or ring 37 of resilient material having raisedindicia 38. The strip is secured to the roller 36 by suitable means suchas a clip 39 which engages the end portions of the strip and is fastenedto the roller byscrew 41. As shown in the drawing, the rollers 36 can beof various widths to accommodate indicia of various sizes.

One side of each of the rollers 31 is provided with a plurality ofnotches 43 which are adapted to be engaged by detents 44 carried by aspring-like member 46. A plurality of spring-like members 46 areprovided and are mounted on the shaft 32 adjacent the notched sidesofthe rollers 31. Each'of the spring-like members are provided with a slot47 which engages an extension 48 of "a U-shaped member 49 connecting theintermediate portions'of the arms 18 and 19. The engagement preve tsrotation of the spring-like members 46.

The printing rollers 31 and the spring-like members 46 are looselymounted on the shaft '32 so that the printing rollers can be rotatedmanually when desired. The detents 44 serve to hold the printing rollersin the desired position. i i if The horizontal base member 12 of theframework 11 is provided with an elongate printing aperture 52 which hasa length sufhcient to receive the printing indicia from all of theprinting rollers 31. It is of a width sufficient to receive one set ofprinting indicia from each of'tiie printing rollers 31;

The printing roller assembly 29 is continuously urged towards theprinting aperture 52 by springmearis 53. The spring means 53 consists ofa threaded rod 5 4- which depends from a bracket 56 fixed to thehorizontal base member 12 by suitable means such as spot welding. "lzliethreaded rod 54 extends through an opening (not shown) in the U-shapedmember 49 and through a"spririg57 which is fixed to the rod bya wingnut58.

An'operating arm 61 is fixed to the U-shaped member 49 intermediate thearms 18 and 19. A'roller bearing assembly 62 is mounted on the free endof the arm 61 and serves as a cam follower which engages a' cam member63. Cam member 63 is in the form of a casting which has a lower leg 64journalled onto a rod .66 which has its ends fastened to the side wallmembers 13 and 14 by suitable means such as screws 67. A pair of collars68 mounted on the rod 66 serve to prevent'lateral movement of the cammember 63 relative to the rod 66.

The cam member 63 is provided with two cam portions 69 and 7 1. Bothportions lie in the same plane and are adapted to ;be engaged by the camfollower 62. Cam portion 71 is provided with four arcuate cam surfaces71a, 71b, 71c and 71d for a purpose hereinafter described.

7 Cam portion 69 overlies the arcuate cam surface 71b ample, as shown inthe drawing, the block is provided with a threaded'extension 78-whichextends through a hole (not shown) in the end of the link 74 and isfastened thereto by a nut 79. g V d V The block 77 is mounted on athreaded rod 80 by nuts 81- mounted on each side of the block 77. Theother end of the threaded rod 80 is connected to an operating handle orpusher bar 82 by screw 83 in a cylindrical extension 84 of the handle-82.

The cylindrical extension 84 of the operating handle 82 is slidablymounted "in a tubular member 86 which is provided with a cylindricalrecess 87 adapted to receive the cylindrical extension 84. The tubularmember 86 is an integralpartj of a face plate 88 which is mounted on thetable by suitable means such as screws 89. A spring 91 is connectedbetween the block 77 and the tubular member 86 for a purpose hereinafterdescribed. 7

Another spring 92 is connected between the bottom member 16 and one endof thecam portion 71 for. a punpose hereinafter described.

An inking pad holder 96 normally closes the printing aperture 52 andcarries an inking pad 97 which-faces downwardly from the inking padholder 96. A plurality of small holes (not shown) are provided in theinking pad holder 96 and are spaced across the length of the holdertoprovide means by which ink can be dropped onto the inking pad 97.

operated by one hand, however, it is generally more de- The inking padholder 96 is carried by a platelike' member 98 whichis connected to aU-shaped member 99 by suitable means such as screws 101. The ends of.the ,U-shapedmember 99'81'6 connected to side wall members 13 and 14 byfastening assemblies 102 similar to fastening assemblies 21 to permitpivotal movement of the U-shaped member 99 about the fasteningassemblies 102.

An operating arm 103 is fastened to the U-shaped member 99. Its free endis provided with a roller hearing assembly 104 which serves as a camfollower and is adapted to be engaged by the lower cam surface 71d of.cam member 63 for a purpose hereinafter described.

Aspring 106 is connected between the operating arm 103 and the topportion of cam member 63.

A spring 107 has one end connected to the U-shaped ;member 99 and 108and has the other end connected to theside wall member 13 at 109. Asimilar spring 111 is connected to the U-shaped member 99 at 112 and tothe sidewall member 14 at 113. The springs 107 I and 111 serve to urgethe U-shaped member 99 in a clockwise direction into engagement withstops 114 of suitable resilient material such as rubber.

Operation of my marking device may now be de-' scribed as follows: Letit be assumed that my marking apparatus has been installed in a lockerplant in which custom work is done for the locker plants customers.

Let it also be assumed that it isdesired to pre-mark the pieces of paperused for wrapping the meat. A sheet of wrapping paper to be used forwrapping is torn from 'a roll of paper and placed on the table or worksurface sirable to operate the handle 82 with the body by leaningagainst the handle so that both hands are free for handling the paper.

During initial movement of the handle 82, the printing roller assembly29 .is ,moved away from the inking pad holder 96 as shown in'Figure 3;During this initial movement, cam member 63 is. rotated clockwise fromthe position shown in Figure 2 until the cam follower 62 engages the camportion 69. As clockwise movement of the cam'member 63 is continued, thecam follower 62 is moved downwardly by the cam surface 69a. The camfollower 62 serves to lower the printing roller assembly 29 from'theinking pad holder 96 to the position shown in Figure 3.

At about the time the cam folower 62 engages the lowermost portion ofthe cam surface 69a, the cam surface 71d of cam portion 71 engages thecam follower 104. Continued clockwise movement of cam member 63 bymovement of the handle 82 causes clockwise rotation (as viewed in Figure4) of the U-shaped member 99 to move the inking pad holder 96 awayfromthe printing aperture52. I

At the same time that the inkin' pad holder is moved away from' theprinting aperture 52 the cam-follower 62 comes into engagement witharcuate cam surface 710 which serves to raise the cam follower 62 whichin turn moves the printing roller. assembly 29 into the printingaperture 52 as shown in Figure 3. Thus, while the inking pad holder 96is moved, to an out-of-the-way position, the printing roller assembly 29is moved to the printing position.

The operator then takes one of his hands while' hold .ing the sheet ofpaper with the other hand and wipes his hand across the portion of thesheet immediatelyabove the portion of the printingroller assembly 29projecting ture 52 to set'them in the desired'position. The printingrollers can also contain various types of information. For example, oneroller could contain the various types of meat such as pork, beef, etc.Another roller could .contain the cuts of meat, another roller couldcontain body and the marking apparatus snaps back to theposition shownin Figure 2. V

The various springs in the 'apparatus serve to return the apparatus toits normal-or home position as shown in Figure 2. Springs 91, 107, 111,92 and57 are'the primary springs for returning the apparatus to itsnormal position. The springs also serve as a counterbalance tofacilitate easy operation of the apparatus. Spring 106 connected betweentheupper portionof the cam member 63 and the operating arm 103 moveswith the cam member 63 and operating arm 103 and makes it easier tooperate the apparatus.

It will be noted that when the apparatus is returning to its home ornormal position from the position shown in Figure 4 that the cam member63 moves in a counterclockwise direction as'viewed in Figure 4. The ,camfollower 62 first engages camsurface 69b which moves cam follower 62downwardly which in turn moves the printing roller assembly 29 out ofthe printing aperture 52. At the same time, cam follower 104 movestowards the end of cam surface 71d to permit the inking pad holder 96 togradually return to its home position. Movement of the cam member 63continues in a counterclockwise' direction" until the cam follower62engages cam surface 71a which serves to move the printing rollerassembly back into engagement with the inking pad 97. The spring 57mounted on the rod 54 also serves to move the printing roller assemblyinto engagement with the inking pad 97.

Thus, it is apparent that each time the marking apparatus is operated,the marking indicia being used on the printing rollers come into contactwith the inking pad 97 to insure that there is always suflicient ink onthe indicia to give a good mark.

The position of the printing roller assembly 29 and the printingaperture 52 can be adjusted by shifting the block 77 on the threaded rod80 by adjustment of the nuts 81.

After the sheet of paper has been marked by my marking apparatus, thepiece of meat may be wrapped. The same operation is performed forwrapping the other pieces of meat. Whenever a different cut of meat isencountered, the position of the printing roller can be rapidly changedso that the proper indicia will appear through the printing aperture 52merely by moving the desired roller in one direction or the other by afinger or pencil.

It will be evident from the foregoing that my invention is capable of awide usefulness. In addition to its use in locker plants, it is apparentthat it can be readily used in many packing and wrapping applicationswhere pre-marking is desirable. The marking apparatus is particularlyuseful in that it can be operated by slight movement of the body leavingboth hands free for packing and wrapping operations.

Although the invention has been disclosed as a manually operated device,it is apparent that it can be readily adapted for electrical operationby mounting an electrically operated solenoid on the framework for theapparatus which will move the link 74 in a manner similar to that inwhich it is moved by the operating handle 82.

This application is a continuation in part of my copending applicationSerial Number 493,995 filed on March 14, 1955, now abandoned.

I claim:

1. In a marking apparatus adapted to be mounted on a. horizontal worksupporting surface, a framework, one portion of said framework having anupper surface substantially flush with the horizontal work supportingsurface, said upper surface being provided with a printing aperture, aninking pad holder mounted on said framework and movable between aposition closing the printing aperture and an out-of-the-way position,an ink pad mounted in said inking pad holder and facing downwardly fromsaid inking pad, a printing member mounted on said framework and movablebetween three positions, in a first position being in engagement withsaid inking pad, in a second position being out of engagement with saidinking pad and in a third position being raised into the printingaperture, and means for operating said inking pad holder and saidprinting member whereby said printing member is first moved away fromsaid inking pad and moved to its second position and said inking padholder is moved to its out-of-the-way position while said printingmember is raised to its third position in the printing aperture.

2. Marking apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the operating means includesan operating member adapted to be engaged by the trunk portion of thebody to cause operation of the apparatus and at the same time permittingfree use of the hands.

3. Marking apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the operating means includesa unitary cam member for causing movement of said inking pad holder andsaid printing member.

4. In a marking apparatus adapted to be mounted on a horizontal worksupporting surface, a framework, one portion of said framework having anupper surface substantially flush with the horizontal work supportingsurface, said upper surface being provided with a printing aperture, aninking pad holder mounted on said framework and movable between aposition closing the printing aperture and an out-of-the-way position,an ink pad mounted in said inking pad holder, a printing roller assemblymounted on said framework and movable between three positions, in afirst position being in engagement with said inking pad, in a secondposition being removed from engagement with said inking pad,'and in athird position being raised into a printing position in the printingaperture, and means for causing movement of said inking pad holder andsaid print-ing roller assembly whereby said printing roller assembly isfirst removed from engagement with said inking pad and moved to itssecond position and then to cause said inking pad holder to be moved toits out-of-the-way position while said printing roller assembly is movedto its first position.

5. Marking apparatus as in claim 4 wherein said printing roller assemblycomprises a shaft, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted on saidshaft, raised indicia on said rollers adapted to be moved upwardlythrough said printing aperture, and detent means mounted on said shaftfor retaining said rollers in predetermined angular positions.

6. Marking apparatus as in claim 4 together with means for adjustablypositioning the printing roller assembly with respect to the printingaperture.

7. In a marking apparatus adapted to be mounted on a horizontalsupporting surface, a framework, one portion of said framework having anupper surface substantially flush with the horizontal work supportingsurface, said upper surface being provided with a printing aperture, aninking pad holder pivotally mounted on said framework and movablebetween a position closing the printing aperture and an out-of-the-wayposition, an ink pad mounted in said ink pad holder and facing away fromthe aperture when the pad holder is in a position closing the printingaperture, a printing member pivotally mounted on said framework andmovable between three positions, in a first position being in engagementwith said inking pad, in a second position being out of engagement withsaid inking pad and in a third position being raised into the printingaperture, and means foractuating said inking pad holder and saidprinting member whereby said printing member is first moved away fromsaid inking pad and then said inking pad holder is moved to anout-of-the-Way position and raising said printing member into theprinting aperture, said last named means including a unitary cam member,a cam follower engaging the cam member and connected to said printingmember, said cam member having three arcuate surfaces engaged by the camfollower to move the printing member between first, second and third p0sitions as the cam member is moved, and a second cam follower connectedto said inking pad holder, said cam member having a fourth arcuatesurface engaged by the additional cam follower to move the inking padholder from a position closing the printing aperture to an outof-the-wayposition as the cam member is moved.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS462,065 Sawyer Oct. 27, 1891 931,170 Wilhelm Aug. 17, 1909 1,291,057Marks Jan. 14, 1919 1,574,367 Commander Feb. 23, 1926 1,832,501Pittenger Nov. 17, 1931 2,506,337 Boyden May 2, 1950 2,551,985 WellerMay 8, 1951 2,559,455 Meyer July 3, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS 317,539 GermanyDec. 22, 1919 316,745 Great Britain Aug. 8, 1929

